Post navigation

About N. E. Conneely

If you’re looking for never before published stories, exclusive content, and signed print books check out my Patreon!

I only offer signed print books via Patreon. The price includes shipping to anywhere in the world.

Every month I publish content only available to patrons. This includes:

Cover art or pictures related to one of my works.

A flash fiction (typically 100 to 500 words).

A short story (typically between 2,000 and 7,500 words). It could be a science fiction, fantasy, young adult, thriller, horror, or anything in between and will range from new worlds to existing ones like the Witch’s Path and Fey Hearted worlds.

Getting up this morning I knew it was time for me to write my yearly wrap-up, but I didn’t have a lot of motivation. On Christmas Eve my car stopped starting in a parking lot and had to be towed home. Getting it towed to a mechanic and repaired will be today’s problem. The day after Christmas I managed to sprain my big toe. I’ll spare you the grizzly details, but I dearly hope none of you ever do something similar. The pain is completely disproportionate to the injury, and every step is a painful reminder that toes are important and do something.

Thankfully, the lovely Andi and I had been talking about writing, life, and 2017. The exact inspiration I needed was sitting in my e-mail.

Looking back at 2016, what did you accomplish as a writer? Of what are you most proud? What didn’t go as well as you’d hoped?

Earlier this year I started keeping a list of work accomplishments. It’s something I plan on continuing because it gives me perspective. With how long so many “tasks” (like writing a book) take and how they tend to flow into one another (from writing to rewriting, to editing), it can be easy to forget what I’ve done and this reminds me.

Rebuilt my desk to be ergonomic (Big thanks to my husband for helping!)

Formatted Fey Hearted and A Witch’s Rite for trade paperback

Reformatted Witch for Hire, A Witch’s Path, A Witch’s Trial, A Witch’s Concern for trade paperback

Reformatted Witch for Hire, A Witch’s Path, A Witch’s Trial, A Witch’s Concern, A Witch’s Rite, Fey Hearted, and Michelle’s Case Files Kindle files to look prettier and be cohesive inside the series.

Formatted Fey Hearted, Michelle’s Case Files, Witch for Hire, A Witch’s Path, A Witch’s Trial, A Witch’s Concern, and A Witch’s Rite for iBooks, Kobo, Nook, and other retailers

Published Fey Hearted, Michelle’s Case Files, Witch for Hire, and A Witch’s Path to iBooks, Kobo, Nook, and other retailers

I’m really proud of that list. Several of those things took weeks or months. Others required learning new skills and programs. I did all of that in between moving, getting married, visiting family, having a honeymoon, and being plagued with an ulcer. Everything I’ve just typed is important. They’re the things I need to remember when I wonder where 2016 went.

However, I didn’t do as much pure writing as I’d hoped. That’s the one thing I’d really like to improve upon in 2017.

Looking forward to 2017, what would you like to accomplish as a writer? What might need to stay in place for those things to happen? What might need to change?

In 2017 I want to write 1,000,000 words. It’s a big goal, one I may not make, but everything I write gets me closer to some of my smaller goals (like completing individual books). And the process of trying will be a reward of its own as I get back to the writing and stories I love.

To write a million words in 2017, I need to hold onto my determination and drive while I work on my time management and daily flow. I need to learn when to take breaks and when to look at the a blank page and feel an upwelling of “I Can!” I need to walk forward boldly and with conviction, remembering to prioritize my goals because it’s easy for them to get lost and that’s unacceptable. I need to be a better me and a better writer.

I read a lot of books in 2016. But with everything that went on I got behind with updating you and adding them to my website. So, I want to fill in some of the gaps and pick out some favorites. (Please note this post contains affiliate links and Amazon will pay me a small commission if you purchase anything after clicking these links. Your cost is not increased by using these links.)

The Lunar Chronicles (Cinder, Scarlett, Cress, and Winter) by Marissa Meyer were fantastic. I’ve been reading them again and they’re just as good the second time.

The Mystery of Ireta by Ann McCaffrey. Technically this is two books packaged as one, but it’s really one story. I loved this book because it was everything I wanted in science fiction as a kid but couldn’t find in the library. It’s very much focused on the conflict and world, not individual characters, and for me that was part of the magic.

This is a wonderful and scary time. For all my long time readers, I’m so very glad you’re here. You’ve been amazing and I’m so very grateful! For my new readers, Welcome! You’ve found me during a crazy time and I hope you can be a bit patient with me.

I was published exclusively on Amazon for several years. As part of being exclusive on Amazon my books were in the Kindle Unlimited program. This worked for me for a long time, but around September 2016 something changed. I stuck it out for a while, hoping I’d see improvements to what I felt were problem areas in the program. Unfortunately, there was a significant gap between what I hoped to see change and what I did see change in the following months.

Due to that, I’m going to try publishing on other retailers. I’m nervous, excited, and I really hope it goes well. The goal is to have a positive experience for everyone (especially all my readers. Y’all are amazing!), and work around some of the thinks I felt weren’t being handled properly in the Kindle Unlimited program.

Right now I’m in the process of fulfilling my exclusive contracts with Amazon before publishing on other retailers. In November the exclusive contract for A Witch’s Path expired and I didn’t renew it. Between now and the end of January all of the exclusive contracts will end. One by one, my books will be published multiple retailers, including iBooks, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

Due to the different times contracts expire, it will take over a month to get all of the books on all the retailers. As a reader, I know it’s frustrating to hear that a book is published, but not where you like to shop. As a business woman, I’m doing the very best I can.

To make it easier for you to find information, every time a book is liberated from Amazon and makes it onto other retailers, I’ll make a blog post. You’ll always be able to see the latest information by going to the home page neconneely.com. In addition, each book’s page will be updated with links to new stores when it becomes available.